Spring mounted leveler for ground pulverizers



Dec. 1, 1953 Y. THOMAS SPRING MOUNTED LEVELER FOli GROUND PULVERIZERSFiled May 1 1951 INVENTOR.

firraeu'vs Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES SPRING MOUNTED LEVELERFOR GROUND PULVERIZERS Yeppie Thomas, Fresno, Calif. Application May 1,1951, Serial No. 223,898

This invention relates to agricultural implements and is directed toimprovements in ground pulverizers employing'toothed roller assemblies.This invention is particularly concerned with the spring mounting of aleveler on the frame ,of such devices and in the provisionof a novelform of limit stops for regulating the lower limit of movement of theleveler.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel form ofmounting of a leveler for use in conjunction with ground pulverizers.

Another object is to provide a leveler having a scraper blade and havingdeflector plates at the ends thereof to direct earth clods and the likeinwardly away from the ends of the leveler so that the clods may bebroken up by rolling action on the ground.

Another object is to provide a device of this type in which thedeflector plates and scraper blade cooperate withthe frame of the deviceto define pockets isolated from contact by the earth clods, togetherwith adjustable limit stops on the frame extending into the pockets tolimit downward movement of the scraper blade under action of its springsupports.

Further and more detailed objects and advantages will appearhereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a ground pulverizer embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 2-2 asshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 as shownin Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the mounting of one of thedeflector plates.

Referring to the drawings, the frame I includes a horizontal transversebeam l I and a pair of rearwardly extending arms l2 and I3 fixed to thebeam. A toothed roller assembly [4 extends transversely between the armsI2 and I3. This assembly l4 may take any desired form and if desired maybe similar to that shown in my patent for Toothed Roller Assembly, No.2,537,802, issued January 9, 1951. Bearings on the arms l2 and I 3rotatably support the toothed roller assembly I4 on the frame It.

A tubular element I6 is fixed to the central portion of the beam II andextends forwardly therefrom. Angle braces l1 and [8 are connected to theforward end of the tube l6 and to the transverse beam H. Struts [9connect these angle braces I! to the beam II. A tongue is telescopicallyreceived within the tubular ele- 4 Claims. (01. 371'79) ment l6, and apin 2| passes through the tubular element It and through any one of aseries'of apertures in the tongue 2%] for adjustably securing the tongue26 with respect to the frame It.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a leveler 22 which extendstransversely of the frame it in advance of the toothed roller assemblyit and which extends between the arms i2 and i3. Leaf springs 23 arebolted at their forward ends 24 to the transverse beam II and at theirrearward ends 25 to the horizontal flange 26 of the leveler 22. Theleveler 22 is preferably formed as an angle section in which the flange25 is one of the legs and the downwardly extending scraper blade 21 isthe other. The leaf springs 23 act resiliently to impose a downwardforce on the leveler 22.

A deflector plate 28 is mounted at each end of the leveler 22 for thepurpose of deflecting earth clods inwardly away from the ends of theleveler. Each deflector plate has its upper edge in contact with theunder-surface of the flange 26 and its rear edge in contact with theforward surface of the scraper blade 2i. The leading edge 29 of thedeflector plate 23 is inclined as shown in the drawings and meets theupper edge of the plate in a point 32. The forward tip 3| of thedeflector plate may be bent as shown so that it does not extendlaterally beyond the edge of the leveler 22. The deflector plate 28cooperates with the scraper blade 27 and horizontal flange 22 to definean open ended pocket 32 at each end of the leveler 22. This pocket iseffectively isolated from the contact by earth clods because thedeflector plate 23 directs clods inwardly away from the end of theleveler 22 as the device moves forward over the ground. The limit stopmember 33 is carried on each of the frame arms l2 and i3 and each isprovided with a horizontal footpiece 3-; which extends into the pocket32 to a position below the flange 26. A series of openings 35 isprovided in each of the members 33 and a bolt 35 passes through any oneof these openings 35 to connect the stop member 33 to the arm l3 or it.The function of the stop members 33 is to limit the downward movement ofthe leveler 22 with respect to the frame Ill. Since the footpiece 34 oneach stop member 33 engages the leveler in a location isolated fromcontact by earth clods, the stop members operate effectively to maintainthe lower limit of travel of the leveler 22 at the desired positionwithout danger of earth becoming entrapped between the footpiece 34 andflange 26.

In addition to the function of isolating the ee eletie ef -tent framescape endwise, they continue to roll in front of the scraper blade 21and are broken up by this rolling action and contact with other clods.

In fififi t w'fqrwa n yff th t gue? is connected to a tractor or othersuitable towing vehicle. The limit stops 33 are adjustably connected to,the frame arms l2 and i3 at the desired position to limit the downwardmovement of the leveler 22 under action of the leaf The tractor pullsthe device forwardly over the ground surface and the scraper blade 21levels the ground while breaking earth clods w'hich roll before it. Thesmaller cltids pass under the scraper blade 21 and are pulverized byactionof the toothed rings in the assembly M. The ac- Qr. ocs in enqe unblade 21 doesnotaffect thejcontrol the tho t n. of h -.1:-=x e;z au$ thpockets 3 2 -ar e isolated from contact with the liest as a n any. dibed. my in' m ms.- t tei i ef o' d th t I d hdtwfihfi b imi ed to tese-t i li e n ti rih ut m ihvffi'tiiin is of full scope of the appendedclaims.

n eel ribi iii ei ,i ii fi it a th mp or er w nri eea. a. en mcqateqiziepleve t l af. sp n s. qQm t h leveler tqthe f m ,ezi es iresiliently t ne i-asl nward orc a v a dle t an sfl iq fix datgeechen pthe le elemn nio meda an angle thereto to deflect earth inwardly away teat th lsn pf' leve er a fi e iremewo icrwardn er h r d ur e ea h fle iecooperating; with the leveler to define a pocket isolated from contactwith earth, and stopueiemerits adjustably mounted on the frame each hav--ing; a portion extending into one of said pockets to limit downwardmovement'of the leveler under infiuenceof said leaf springs.

I an agricultural implement having a frame-,1. the? improvementcomprising: a groundcontacting leveler; the leveler comprisinganan'glesctionhavinga' downwardly directed blade and -a1forward1 directedflange, leaf springs conmeeting the leveler flange to the frame-andacting z r'esilientlyto impose a downward force on said blade; adeflector, plate fixed at each end of the angle section and mounted atanangle thereto 4 to deflect earth inwardly away from the ends of theleveler as the frame moves forward over the ground surface, eachdeflector plate cooperaating with the flange and blade to define apocket isolated from contact with earth, and stop elements adjustablymounted on the frame each having a portion extending into one of saidpockets to =limt downwardgmovement of the 3. In an agriculturalimplement of the type described, the combination of: a frame providedwith a transverse beam, a tongue extending forfrom sa-id beam, a pair oflaterally spaced aims extending rearwardly from said beam, atgroiindapontacting leveler positioned between the arms, the levelercomprising an angle section havifigafiownwardly directed blade and aforwardly directed flange, leaf springs connecting the leveler flange tothe beam and acting resilientlyto impose a downward force on said t gaaria attest element adjustablyj dimmed A arms each havin i561- tiofiextending under the V flange in advane pr the blade to liiiiit 'ddwnwardmovement" of the levlerinider innuefiee' of saidleaf springs: cl. anagficultiiral implement er the" type described; the combination ofa-frarfie provided with; aforwardly extending tongue and apair r igte'rl'uy spaced eawatc egtenainjg arms, a ground-cont lvelerpos whee ten-weensaidarmsl leaf springs connecting the leveler to the f arrie andact'ifigr'esilieiitly toiiiipos'e a I r i-eeei1se a'ieve er, a deflectorfixed at each e'ndgf the leveler and mounted at an rigle tb fre eted fleit i a l wa j Hie ends of the leveler as the frame meter forw rd overthe groundsurface, each deflector cooperating with the leveler te definea secret isolated from contact with earth, step elements adjustap y meawatt the frame arias each having einqx ien.., ieedine bit 5f S5141fibckfsdio ac. dewewe iiq r lit 6 the were infiuenceof said leafsprings.

YEPPIE'THOMAIS;

References Cited iii the" 51% er this patent UNrrEnsTATEs PATENTS so: Nmbep. U Y. f f l Larges; pearl Sept..1'3,1I932 a ita'esa 1 Sch' irli eta1. 'J"an. 1831 949 2,495,310 Armington Jan. $1950

